...a new birdwatcher in our family?

1] ..-. .- .. .-.. ..- .-. . Right off the bat I must give my critique of The Ghost of the Mary Celeste written by Valerie Martin. Now for me, it is my understanding that the ship was found in the 1870s...abandoned. With no one on board. The ship was still intact, and towed to Gibraltar...with a mystery that has never been solved. Now, I was captivated by the title and really looking forward to reading an historical novel about the crew and the ship. But this published work was highly disappointing. Yes, I read the entire book. Even tho it continued to go down hill. Instead of the story of the ship itself, the author struck an idea and went off on several different tangents having nothing to do with the disaster/mystery at sea...concentrating on spiritualists, a journalist, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle [who in real life wrote a short story of the Mary Celeste]. And the abrupt ending ...the last few days of the life aboard the Mary Celeste left me hanging...so, who is the ghost? The seer? The spiritualist? In part, the author has one person disappearing days before it was abandoned [according to history chronicled dates and time]. I'd give it one star out of five. It did keep me turning the pages in hopes that the 'tide would turn' to the ship instead of its babbling on and on about nothing to do with the disappearance of the passengers and crew. In my opinion, the book itself was a disaster. I was expecting more on historical fiction, but came up short. I'm very pleased of one thing....that I didn't buy it off the bookstore shelf; borrowing it from the local library was a wise move. What's the distress signal for failure? [ see above: dot dot dash dot / dot dash / dot dot / dot dash dot dot / dot dot dash / dot dash dot / dot]

2] We, here at Hootin' Anni's home, seemed to have acquired a new bird0watcher enthusiast!! Click on images to enlarge to see what he sees....
...Winston

3] I first heard about this when we retired to Arizona. There is a legend throughout the Sonoran Desert about cicadas. Once you hear them 'singing' while they're well hidden in trees and surrounding areas -- the legend states it will rain soon! The Southwest is 'famous' for their monsoon season, their haboobs [blinding dust storms], and flash flooding. After I learned of this folklore and cicadas, I began to pay attention. Sure 'nough within a few weeks of hearing my first cicada calling, it rained. The monsoons began. Much relief to the parched desert. The lightning shows are something to behold! Scary...and CLOSE. We had lightning strike our house once,......went through the roof/attic space down the entire electrical system. We lost all appliances, including TVs and computer. The computer had a surge protector...this doesn't work with lightning...just power surges after power outages. No matter...my #3 tho should state, the cicadas are singing up a storm here!!! Storm did I say? Not yet. Wondering if the legend is part of Texas lore?!!

4] Speaking of insects. Here's a couple of groaners: a] "A centipede is an inchworm that has switched to the metric system." b] "One fly to another fly: 'Your human is open' "

5] I'm keeping tabs on all the Republican AND Democrat hopefuls for 2016. Reading some of the newsworthy sites online about all the scandals, etc. one reporter stated this...and I quote from the website in condensed version: "....in 2016 every single candidate will have some sort of politically motivated attack on them"....I say: "ummmm, y'think? And this is news? In what way?"

Anxious to get back to the car from our two mile walk...you'd find us venturing down by the river and the ponds for birding early one morning. It was sultry by the time we turned around and began our leaving the area. I wore a large brimmed hat and had decided to wear long sleeves and a pair of jeans to ward off a whole swarm of mosquitoes feasting on me through the tall grasses as we traipsed through the woodlands. Of course I was soaking wet with perspiration by now...stopping in the shaded areas to cool down and head back out into the sun. Once we stopped at an old abandoned bird blind, I happened to look through its opening and spotted something I wouldn't like to see in my dreams even!! A huge Yellow and Black Garden Spider. They're not lethal to humans, but still dark and sinister looking!!! We stayed there long enough for me to focus my lens on it and left!!!

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Hi Anne, my time is just not my own it appears...so busy for being retired. hard to catch my breath...truly and then get caught up as well! Cicadas...one year when it was the 17 year Magi-Cicadas. We had them everywhere. Their cast shells were in piles beneath trees and they sang all day long, from dawn until dusk. I said then, I hope I live to hear them once again...not sure how many more years before the Magi-Cicadas come out of the earth again, but I long to hear them. We have a few of the regulars arriving at this time in the big city, but nothing so amazing as what happens out here~

i love the argiope spiders - as long as i don't walk into them. :) my mother-in-law used to call cicadas 'dry flies' so that seems to be the opposite of your rain indicator. and ours sure sing all summer (although they're quiet now).

...well, I guess someone should love the spiders...not me. lol That's a first....the 'dry flies'...now I'm gonna have to pay attention to see if it remains dry or rains here. Thank YOU for hosting Ms. T.

Inquisitive minds need to know the answers to what happened in the past, sorry youdidn't find the answers in the book.:( The cicada must sound a little like our crickets, which I love to hear on a summer evening. I'm fascinated by spiders, but I wouldn't want one in my bed.Hubby found one in his yesterday, and caught it in a jar for me to photograph.Posting soon!

I haven’t thought about the Mary Celeste in a very long time. It was a fascinating mystery and it’s a pity the book didn’t meet up to expectations. Your latest ‘bird watcher’ is as cute as a button, made me smile. I have never heard the legend of the cicada before. I had one land on our screen the other day. It was different to those I have seen before, more of a green color. Usually they have more reddish tones but maybe it was in another stage and I have not noticed this before. They have been very noisy lately. You’re right, nothing new on attacking political opponents is there? Great picture of the spider. I had one run over me last night while I was sitting in the chair. Didn't think I could move that fast! This has been a fun post to read, thanks Anni. Have a good one.

Wonderful post filled with lots of information and fun stuff and great photos.Your fence shot towards the beach was really pretty.The Cicada is so weird looking and the spider was a bit creepy but I loved your shot.

Cicadas aren't making much noise up here in the Austin area. Needing lots of days of good, soaking rains. Love the fence! I was suddenly back at my Granny Chandler's place. She lived next to old Hwy 75. It was a two lane road at that time. I am old.....

Oh, Anni, I must have had a "feeling" about that book! I went to Abe books, my source for great-condition used books for cheap, and found the one your were talking about...but also a factual account. I couldn't help it. I bought the non-fiction one, thinking, well, I'll get the fiction book later. But now I won't. Sorry it was a disappointment. I sure am looking forward to reading the one I ordered. I'll let you know about it!

Love that bird-watching kitty! She probably wonders why they aren't moving about and singing! :-) She's a really pretty cat too...or he. I had never heard about the cicada folklore, but now I will pay more attention. Ouch on that lightning strike on your house! We had that happen a LONG time ago in Texas. :-) Great fence, too!

I usually don't "go back" and see someone's response to my comments but when I can I like to do so on your blog. I have to hold myself back about not ordering books every month both from Abe and Amazon. It's like an addiction! :-) Glad you like Abe as well.

Anni, What great shots of the spider and the locust (that's what we call them here in Kansas). Keep me posted on the candidates - I must admit I don't know what to believe and what not to believe. It makes it very hard to vote for a good, honest person to serve the people of America. Have a great weekend. Mickie :)

Awesome pictures! I too would be fascinated by the story of a ship like that. We visited the Queen Mary when we were in California and it was so fascinating. Like being able to walk around on the Titanic!

I'm fascinated by that story too, and it's always a shame when a reader has more pull in turning the pages to a book, by their/our own hunger than what an author delivers for us. I wonder if we'll ever get to know the true story?

Let me first say that Winston is CUTE! I also love that name. As for the cicadas.... I live in Texas and every single night the cicadas are practically screeching their little heads off. (Especially in our great oak behind the house). They are l-o-u-d, and we're pretty much in a drought. I used to love hearing them, but these days not so much. It's like they're having a party all night long. ;o)

When I see garden spiders I always think of Charlotte. I get frustrated in the fall when their webs seem to be everywhere and I hate walking into them and wondering where the spider is. Good shot of the long legs.

oh that bird watcher is adorable!! i had never heard of a cicada till we moved in missouri and they were soooo loud all summer long. you just got used to it! we have them here in virginia too...i don't remember if i heard them in georgia....hope you will join willy nilly again tomorrow!!

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